Laboratory products
supplier Camlab has slashed inventory costs and achieved 99 per cent stock accuracy
with warehouse management solutions from Balloon One. In 12 months, this saved
Camlab £100,000 in stock costs. Camlab expects to use the software to reduce
stock holdings further while maintaining customer service excellence.
Camlab has been trading for more than 60 years. In 2007, it acquired Patterson
Scientific and increased its total inventory to 55,000 SKUs (stock units). This
enabled customers to procure everything from a single source but it presented a
major warehouse management challenge to the company's original computer system.
Camlab replaced its ageing computer system with a SAP Business One enterprise
resource planning (ERP) solution. Although the new ERP software offered a
warehouse management module, Camlab recognised that it would not perform the
job it needed for managing such a massive number of product lines.
"Our SAP partner recommended Balloon One as our
warehouse IT partner. The company has significant and demonstrable expertise in
integrating warehouse management systems with SAP. Its radio-frequency
warehouse management system offered the flexibility, accuracy and speed we
needed to automate the warehouse for maximising efficiency and reducing
operational costs. The system quickly provided 95 per cent accuracy, which was
a big leap forward for us and now we consistently achieve over 99 per cent
accuracy. The annual stock take is a thing of the past as we now have a
perpetual inventory allowing full and instant visibility of stock and stocking
levels," said Rowan Maulder, Marketing Director, Camlab.
Camlab takes a scientific approach to inventory planning by using an artificial
intelligence-based tool from Balloon One. Within six months, the software
helped the company to reduce stock by almost 10 per cent, which paid for the
software. It also reduced dead and inactive inventory by 50 per cent and
increased weekly productivity by 75 per cent. The software analyses every
single product line - numbers of items, turnover, buying patterns and supply.
"The software allows us to drive service levels and manage our costs. It has
given us a clear view of our inventory and allows us to take firm control by
helping to balance the stock and reduce stock holding. A year ago, we held
£750,000 of stock and now it is nearer £650,000 while maintaining satisfaction
levels. It is a brilliant piece of software," said Rowan Maulder.
For further information on Ballon One warehouse integration
click hereTo visit the Camlab website
click here
Subscribe to any of our newsletters for the latest on new laboratory products, industry news, case studies and much more!
Request your free copies HERE
Popular this Month
Top 10 most popular articles this month
Today's Picks
Looking for a Supplier?
Search by company or by product
Please note Lab Bulletin does not sell, supply any of the products featured on this website. If you have an enquiry, please use the contact form below the article or company profile and we will send your request to the supplier so that they can contact you directly.
Lab Bulletin is published by newleaf marketing communications ltd.